Singer 301

Now that I am a lady “of a certain age” who is rapidly approaching yet another decade birthday, I find that I more and more appreciate anything vintage that has proved both its worth and durability over time.  This is one of my vintage sewing machines.  She is a Singer 301 that I bought on E-Bay when I discovered my beloved Featherweight was missing after a cross-country move.  I love this machine and she works like a dream.  She dates to the early 1950s and gives me a very pretty straight stitch.  For well over a year, she was my favorite machine to take to Sit N Sew days at the LQS.  Eventually I found a good deal on a Featherweight at an estate sale.  I now keep this 301 set up at our ranch house so I can continue work on projects without having to carry machines back and forth.

576 Half Square Triangles Later

I finished this quilt in August.  Unfortunately, it is too large for me to get a picture of the entire quilt.  This was made from a Moda Heritage Collection for a Cause Kit that I purchased in 2008 at the Houston International Quilt Festival, and I have been working on it off and on ever since then.  It required constructing 576 half square triangles, quite a challenge for me.  I chose to to paper piece them, which gives me much more consistent results than the other methods I have tried.

I used a simple meander for the quilting.

My daughter expressed an interest in it and it went home with her recently.  It’s one more UFO off my guilt list.  I will hold on to the instructions.  I really like the pattern, but think I would use modern prints or possibly batiks next time around.

Thank You Gifts and Pictures of My Fur Babies

I made these basic little tote bags last night with fabric from my stash.  One will go to a quilting friend who went out of her way to help me with a project.   I'm not sure of her favorite colors and I hope she likes it.  The other will go in my gift drawer.  I have made several of these totes over the last four years and find them very handy. 

And this picture is of Harley (the corgi) and Chloe (a Schnauzer mix...we think), my two special fur babies who keep the house from seeming too empty when DH is out of pocket.   I had never had a dog until three years ago when Harley entered our lives.  We adopted Chloe from a rescue shelter in June. 

 

Thank you, Jo!

Don't you just love getting gifts in the mail?  There's just something special about those that land in the mail box, especially those squishy envelopes we quilters love.

A few days ago Jo, at Jo's Country Junction, held a "I'm Cleaning My Sewing Room" giveaway and I won!  Here's a picture of my loot: three patterns perfect for fall including one that is already started.  What fun!  Thanks for making a beautiful fall day even better, Jo.

Quilts for Grandsons

Since life has quickened its pace this week and I have very little progress to show on current projects, I decided to document two quilts completed a while ago for my grandsons.

This airplane quilt was completed first for the younger.  I had just added the old magazine with the pattern to the stack in the garage for the quilt club giveaway table when the request for the quilt arrived.  As soon as it was done, I started work on one for his older brother who was very specific about wanting US Air Force themed fabric.  Both quilts had to be made to exact dimensions.  They were used on the top level of bunk beds and we did not want excess overhang to interfere with the play areas  beneath.  You can see how "cooperative" the boys were when I asked for pictures!

Rainbow

It was my intent that this blog be all about quilting, but I could not resist sharing this picture.  This was the second rainbow I saw this afternoon.  It lingered the better part of an hour giving my spirits a lift as I prepared dinner.

Design Wall Monday

Work continues on my Two-Step quilt in Civil War Reproduction fabrics of indigo and neutrals.  One panel is pieced, two are laid out and a third is underway.  By necessity, these quilt blocks were done on two different machines resulting in a slight variation in the quarter-inch seams.  That makes piecing the panels a challenge.  So far, though, I'm happy with the result.

I had a very quilty weekend with Jo Morton Club, Dear Jane Club and a trip to Austin for a quilt show.  That's a lot of quilt activity in 48 hours, and it should hold me for a few days.  Quilting work will virtually stop this week.  I am hosting a ladies' circle meeting in my house on Wednesday and assisting with a funeral meal at a time to be determined.  Right now my focus has to be on menus and housecleaning.